Floating derrick.



F. GORRELL. FLOATING DERRICK. APPLICATION FILED SBPT.2, 190B. 1 ,()()Q 152 Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT l.

COLUMBIA FMNOORAPII 50., WASHINGTON. D. C.

F. CORRELL. FLOATING DERRIGK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0. WASHINGTON, D. C.

F. GORRELL. FLOATING DERRICK.

APPLICATION FILED 831112, 1908. 1,000, 1 52. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANMRAPH 00., WASHINGTON. D. C.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

P. GORRELL. FLOATING- DERRICK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1908.

rr A 04 FRIEDRICH CORRELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

FLOATING DERRICK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

Application filed September 2, 1908. Serial No. 451,311.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH CoRRELL, a subject of the Emperor ofGermany, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFloating Derricks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pontoons for floating derricks and the like; andparticularly to derricks employing a. liquid ballast.

It has for its object to so arrange and control said ballast that thesame may be quickly and readily varied to correspond to the position andcondition of the load carried by the said derrick, whereby the barge orpontoon may be maintained substantially level under the variouspositions and conditions of the said load.

For this purpose my invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction as set forth in the following specification and shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of thepontoon with a portion of the deck removed and shows ballastcompartments at both ends of pontoon. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional viewstaken respectively on the lines 2-2 and 33, Fig. 1, and show also a sideelevation of a derrick of the bridge type with the load and ballast invarious positions. Fig. 4 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1, and showsalso a side elevation of a derrick of the bridge type with load at oneextreme position. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the pontoon and ballaststorage tanks, and shows ballast compartments at both sides of pontoon.Figs. 6 to 8 are sectional views on the line 66, Fig. 5, showing also,in side elevation, a derrick of the bridge type with load and ballast invarious positions. Figs. 9 to 12 are plan views of the pontoon withballast compartments about the entire portion and carrying a revolvingderrick, the liquid bal last and derrick being shown in variouspositions. Fig. 13 is a similar view, and shows the pontoon providedwith sea-valves. Fig. 1a is a similar view, and shows the pontoonprovided with both independent and with movable liquid ballast.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring now to the drawings, 20 indicates a pontoon or barge, carryinga derrick,

which may be of the bridge type, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8; or ofthe revolving type, as illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14, said derrick beingadapted to handle a load 22 in the usual manner. It is well known, how

ever, in connection with floating derricks,

that the supporting pontoon is unstable and must be provided withsuitable counter-ballast to compensate for the varying position andcondition of the load carried by the said derrick. It has been the usualpractice, therefore, to provide the pontoon at certain parts withsuitable stationary liquid or solid counter-ballast; or with movablecounter-ballast. Such movable counter-ballasts are difliculttomanipulate, require considerable time to reach the desired positions andconsume a relatively large amount of power. Furthermore, it is notpracticable to place such counter-ballast in all of the positionsrequired, and should the load be suddenly released, as for example bybeing supported, the said counter-ballast is in a most unfavorableposition. To overcome these serious objections, I have devised animproved pontoon, employing a liquid bal last and arranged so that thesame may be quickly and inexpensively moved to any desired part of thepontoon, and the latter may be maintained in a substantially levelposition under various positions and conditions of the load. Iaccomplish this by providing the pontoon 20 with a number ofcommunicating compartments 23 adapted to retain a liquid ballast 24,which may be obtained directly from the sea, in case water be employedas ballast, through suitable seavalves 25, Figs. 5 to 8 and 13. Astorage tank or tanks 26, Figs. 5 to 8, 13 and 14, may be provided onthe pontoon to hold reserve ballast, and to enable the same to bequickly distributed as hereinafter set forth, the

tanks being connected to a number or all of said compartments throughsuitable pipes 27, and valves 28 controlling the flow. A pump 29,delivers the ballast from the compartments through pipes 30 and 81, andsuitable cont-rolling valves 32, to the said tank or tanks; and isarranged also to control the flow between a number or all of saidcompartments. Of course, a separate pump might be employed for thispurpose. The said compartments 23 are arranged at suitable parts of thepontoon, preferably at the ends or at the sides, in connection with thebridge type of derrick (see Figs. 1 to 8) and at the sides and one orboth ends, in connection with the revolving type of derricks (see Figs.9 to 14).

The compartments at the ends, or those at the sides, are arranged tocommunicate with each other through pipes 33, 3 1 and 35, Figs. 1 to 4or the pipe 31 Figs. 5 to 8 of suitable dimensions; or in the pontoonshown in Figs. 9 to 14, through other sets of communicatingcompartments, either at both ends, Figs. 9 to 13, or only at one end,Fig. 14. In the pontoon shown in Fig. 1 1, independent counter-ballast36, either solid or liquid and fixed or movable, is provided at the endopposite to the derrick 21, which is located eccentrically with respectto the said pontoon as set forth in U. S. Letters Patent #8%0,684. Acompartment 37 intermediate of the counter-ballast 36, is arranged toreceive liquid ballast from the compartments 23, through a singlecompartment or tube 38, adapted also to establish communication betweenthe compartments of both sides. The various compartments 23, communicatewith each other through suitable controlling valves 39, which are shownhand-controlled; but which, of course, may be operated by steam, water,compressed air or electricity, permitting automatic control.

The operation of my improved pontoon is as follows, reference being hadto Figs. 1 to 8, illustrating the form employed in connection with thebridge type of derricks. Liquid ballast at such as water, is supplied tothe compartments 23 at the sides or ends of the pontoon in any suitablemanner; and, in case the same are provided with seavalves 25, asillustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, the water may be directly and quickly runin from the sea. WVhen the load 22 is at one extreme end, as shown inFig. 2, the ballast 24 is pumped from the forward compartment by meansof the pump 29 either overboard, to the storage tanks 26 or to the rearcompartment in order to compensate for the forward dip of the pontoondue to the position of the load 22, the valve 39 of said compartment ofcourse having been previously closed. lVhen the load is in its centralposition, Fig. 3, the ballast 24 from the rear compartment is allowed topartly return to the forward compartment through the communication 33 byopening its valve 39, until the ballast in both is at the same level asshown. Should the load continue traveling in the same direction, thevalve 39 of pipe 33 is closed and the liquid ballast is pumped from therear compartment overboard, to the tanks 26 or to the forwardcompartment to overcome the backward dip of the pontoon, the conditionwith the load at the extreme position being then as shown in Fig. 4. Incase sea valves 25 are provided, as illustrated in Figs. 5 to 8, thedesired compartments may be quickly filled to the waterline by openingsame; and if further ballast be required, water is supplied to same bymeans of the pump 29, or from tanks 26. As soon as the load is removedand the counter-ballast is no longer required, the valves connecting thevarious water ballast compartments are opened and the water finds itsown level, and is then pumped overboard or to the tank or tanks 26.

In the form of pontoon illustrated in Figs. 9 to 14, the ballast 2 1 isarranged to move entirely around the said pontoon, following the derrick21 with load as indicated. Because the water ballast will not flowentirely out of the compartments to be emptied when the load is shifted,the pump 29 is employed to pump same overboard, into other compartments,or into the tank 26 from which it can be distributed to any desiredcompartment.

I claim 1. In combination: a pontoon or barge; a derrick carriedthereby, and adapted to control a. load; a number ofcommunicatingcompartments adapted to retain a liquid ballast; and meansto control the flow of same in such a manner that the pontoon ismaintained in a substantially level position under various positions andconditions of the load.

2. In combination: a pontoon or barge; a revolving derrick eccentricallymounted thereon, andadapted to carry a. load; a number of communicatingcompartments adapted to retain a liquid ballast; and means to controlthe flow of same in such a manner that the pontoon is maintained in asubstantially level position under various positions and conditions ofthe load.

3. In combination: a pontoon or barge; a revolving derrick eccentricallymounted thereon, and adapted to carry a load; anumber of communicatingcompartments adapt ed to retain water; suitable sea-valves to admitwater to said compartments; a pump and suitable valves to control theflow of the water in such a manner that the pontoon is maintained in asubstantially level position under various positions and conditions ofthe load.

1. In a pontoon for floating derricks: communicating compartments ateach of the two sides of said pontoon, adapted to retain a liquidballast; means to control the flow of ballast through same; means toestablish communication between the compartments of one side and thoseof the other side; and means to control the flow of ballast through saidcommunication. 7

5. In a pontoon for floating derricks: communicating compartments ateach of the two sides of said pontoon, adapted to retain a liquidballast; means to control the flow of ballast through same; a number ofcom.- municating ballast compartments at one end,

said compartments communicating also with said compartments at the twosides of said pontoon; and means to control the flow of ballast throughsaid end compartments.

6. In a pontoon for floating derricks: a number of communicatingcompartments, adapted to retain a liquid ballast; a storage tank ortanks for said ballast, communicating with said compartments; and meansto control the flow of said liquid ballast.

7. In a pontoon for floating derricks: a number of communicatingcompartments, adapted to retain a liquid ballast; a storage tank ortanks for said ballast communicating with said compartments; suitablevalves to control the flow of ballast to and from said compartments,from and to said storage tank or tanks; suitable valves between saidcompartments to control the flow of fluid through same; and a pump totransfer the ballast from said compartments to said tank or tanks.

8. In a pontoon for floating derricks: a. number of communicatingcompartments adapted to retain water; suitable sea-valves for saidcompartments to admit water to same; a storage tank or tanks for saidwater, communicating with said compartments; suitable valves to controlthe flow of water to and from said compartments, from and to saidstorage tank or tanks; suitable valves bet-ween said compartments tocontrol the flow through same; and a pump to transfer the water fromsaid compartments to said tank'or tanks.

9. In a pontoon for floating derricks: communicating compartments aboutthe four sides of said pontoon, adapted to retain a liquid ballast; astorage tank or tanks for same; and means to control the flow of ballastthrough said compartments.

10. In a pontoon for floating derricks: communicating compartments aboutthe four sides of said pontoon, adapted to retain water; suitablesea-valves adapted to admit water to said compartments; a storage tankor tanks for said water; and means to control the flow of water throughsaid compartments and to and from said tank or tanks.

11. In combination: a pontoon or barge; a revolving derrickeccentrically mounted thereon, and adapted to carry a load; a number ofcommunicating compartments adapted to retain water; suitable sea-valvesto admit water to said compartments; a storage tank or tanks; a pump totransfer the water from said compartments to said tank or tanks, andsuitable valves to control the flow of water from said compartments tosaid tank or tanks or from said tank or tanks to said compartments; andsuitable valves between said compartments to cont-r01 the flow throughsame.

12. In a pontoon for floating derricks: a number of communicatingcompartments adapted to retain a liquid ballast; means to control theflow of same through the various compartments; and independent ballast,

13. In combination: a pontoon or barge; a revolving derrick'eccentrically mounted thereon, and adapted to carry a load; a number ofcommunicating compartments adapted to retain a liquid ballast; means tocontrol the flow of same in such a manner that the pontoon is maintainedin a substantially level position under various positions and conditionsof the load; and independent ballast.

Signed at New York in the countv of New York and State of New York this1st day of September A. D. 1908.

FRIEDRICH CORRELL.

IVitnesses:

FREDK. F. Sorrnn'rz, SALLY O. YUDIZKY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Gommissionerof Eatents. Washington, D. G.

